Adjustable crib with variable degrees of confinement and accessibility

ABSTRACT

A rigid, open-ended enclosure, essentially defining a split or interrupted cylinder, is mounted for rotation around a fixed mattress support which extends between and is held by head and foot leg structures. A pair of end walls, fixed relative to the rotatable enclosure, terminate the enclosure at its ends. The split or interruption provides an access opening and by rotating the enclosure through 360* to different predetermined positions the accessibility to a child in the crib may be varied and at the same time the extent to which that child is confined or retained may be varied. In one of the positions, the access opening lies below the mattress support thereby maximizing the confinement effected by the enclosure and, of course, minimizing the accessibility.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 United States Patent [191 Mamo [ 1 ADJUSTABLE CRIB WITH VARIABLE Attorney, Agent, or FirmD0nald W. Banner [75] Inventor: Anthony C. Mamo, Arlington Heights, Ill.

ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

Ill.

A rigid, open-ended enclosure, essentially defining a split or interrupted cylinder, is mounted for rotation [22] Flled: 1972 around a fixed mattress support which extends be- [21] A L N() j 242,454 tween and is held by head and foot leg structures. A

pair of end walls, fixed relative to the rotatable enclosure, terminate the enclosure at its ends The split or interruption provides an access opening and by rotating the enclosure through 360 to different predetermined positions the accessibility to a child in the crib may be varied and at the same time the extent to 1 5A32 7 ow 57 4 m m "-NH, m4 w W Mn mmm mmh c n.-l "3 H "U L at C d SLd 0 all UhF ll] 2 00 555 [ll which that child is confined or retained may be varied.

In one of the positions, the access opening lies below S T N m MA .l e e a e D E n N U m U the mattress support thereby maximizing the confine 157.979 12/1874 5/97 ment effected by the enclosure and, of course, mini- 3 583vOO6 6/1971 5/100 mizing the accessibility.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE CRIB WITH VARIABLE DEGREES OF CONFINEMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many small children, especially when hospitalized, require considerably more confinement than that afforded by conventional cribs with vertically adjustable sides. Retainment harnesses are usually disliked by hospital personnel as well as by the children and their parents. When increased confinement, without harnesses, is desired it is customarily obtained by modifying conventional cribs with costly add-on side extensions, removable domes, etc. Unfortunately, the objective is achieved also at the expense of convenient accessibility to the child, since the devices added to the crib are relatively bulky and hamper the parents or hospital personnel when the child needs attention. Moreover, when the confinement crib is used in a hospital, maintenance men are usually required to install and to remove the devices. In addition, space must be allocated for storing them when not needed.

These shortcomings of prior cribs, plus others not enumerated, have now been overcome with the unique crib of the present invention. It may be employed in either a hospital or a home and with very little effort may be quickly and easily adjusted to exhibit any desired degree of confinement and/or accessibility. Furthermore, this is achieved by movable apparatus that is effectively self-storing and never has to be disassembled and separated from the crib. In addition, while the crib of the invention is primarily intended for children, it could be dimensioned to accommodate adults. For example, it could be used for geriatric patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The adjustable crib of the invention comprises a fixed frame having a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support, the ends of which are supported and held by vertically disposed head and foot leg structures. There is a rigid, open-ended unitary enclosure generally defining a split cylinder with the split providing an access opening extending lengthwise over at least a major portion of the enclosures length dimension. Means are included for rotatably mountingthe enclosure on the fixed frame between the leg structures with the mattress support being effectively encompassed by the enclosure and extending generally parallel to the enclosures rotational axis. Rotation of the enclosure around the mattress support is permitted through a full 360 in order that the access opening may be oriented, relative to the mattress support, to any selected one of a series of different predetermined positions to vary the accessibility to a person in the crib and also vary the extent to which that person is confined by the enclosure. In one of the positions, the access opening is located below the mattress support thereby maximizing the confinement effected by the enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further advantages and features thereof, may best be understood, however, by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable crib, with some parts missing to simplify the illustration, constructed in accordance with the invention and depicting one position of adjustment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are also perspective views of the crib except with additional parts deleted, and show two more positions of adjustment;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the crib in its position of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a combination side view and sectional view taken along section line 5-5 in FIG. 4, FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrating those parts deleted from the views of FIGS. 1-3; and,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the crib.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT While the disclosed crib may be used in any environment, it will be described as a crib for accommodating a child patient in a hospital. End members 10 and 11 respectively constitute vertically disposed head and foot leg structures of a fixed frame, and preferably are formed of tubular metal or plastic. They may, of course, be constructed of other materials, such as wood. A pair of mounting plates or brackets l4, 15 are rigidly secured, such as by welding when all the parts are metallic, to leg structures 10, 11 respectively. Affixed to each of plates 14, 15 are a pair of angle brackets 18 to which are rigidly attached a pair of side angles or horizontal rails 21, 22.

Rails 21, 22 provide a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support'for mattress 23. If desired, one or more transverse members may extend between the rails to enhance the structural rigidity and support. Transverse members have not been illustrated to avoid encumbering the drawings. Stabilizing bar 20 rigidly interconnects the lower portions of leg structures 10, 11. Projections 24 constitute wall bumpers. 1

Instead of providing a flat, continuous supporting structure for mattress 23, the mattress support may be articulated, being divided into four different segments or panels, namely a back panel, a center panel, an upper knee panel and a lower knee panel. Back and knee linkage assemblies would then be employed to angularly position the panels to the contour desired by or required for the patient.

Mounted for rotation around mattress support 21, 22

and mattress 23 is a rigid, open-ended unitary enclosure 25 constructed to essentially define a split or interrupted cylinder with the split or interruption providing an access opening extending lengthwise over a major portion of the enclosures length dimension. Enclosure 25 is also preferably fabricated from tubular metal or plastic and comprises a series of parallel spaced rings or hoops, the two end rings 26, 27 being completed while all the other rings 28 are incomplete or interrupted. Rings 26, 27 and 28 are rigidly interconnected by means of horizontal rails 31, 32 to form a unitary structure. The access opening appears between and is defined by the spacing of rails 31, 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the rails are spaced so'that the access opening covers approximately of the cylinders circumference. I

Additional rigidity for enclosure 25 may be obtained by employing one or more additional horizontal rails to interconnect the rings at suitable spacings from the access opening. For example, if two additional rails were employed, preferably they would be spaced equidistant around the cylinders circumference so that a rail would be present every 90. In other words, a square cross-sectional area would be defined by the four rails. No rails other than rails 31 and 32 have been shown since they are not essential to practice the invention and would only unduly complicate the drawings.

Enclosure 25 is rotatably mounted on the fixed frame, such that its rotational axis parallels the mattress support, by means coupled to the enclosures circumferential periphery. To elucidate, rotatably mounted on each of plates 14, 15 are a pair of rollers 35 to provide bearing support for a respective one of rings 26, 27. With this arrangement when enclosure 25 is turned, the peripheries of rings 26 and 27 roll on rollers 35. Preferably, each of the rollers is covered with a resilient material such as rubber or Nylon so that enclosure 25 is cushioned and effectively floats on its supporting structure.

Rollers 35 thus allow enclosure 25 to be rotated around mattress support 21, 22 and mattress 23 through a full 360 in order that the access opening between rails 31 and 32 may be oriented, relative to the mattress support and mattress, to any desired position. By appropriate construction of enclosure 25, it may be counter balanced to eliminate lifting and to minimize the effort required to turn it. Actually, the enclosure may be rotated and repositioned merely by finger touch pressure. Furthermore, the weight distribution of enclosure 25 will cause it, when permitted to rotate freely, to automatically rotate to its top-open position wherein the access opening is uppermost, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The sides of the crib thus effectively fall up rather than down as in a conventional crib. This is an important feature since it eliminates the so-called guillotine effect.

While the enclosure 25 may be established at any one of an infinite number of positions or orientations, as a practical matter only a relatively small number ofpositions are actually needed. Moreover, once the enclosure is moved to a selected position, it is desirable that the enclosure be maintained locked in that selected position. This is realized in the illustrated case by a releasable locking means shown only in FIGS. 4, and 6. A series of detent notches 38 are provided on the inner circumference of ring 26 and each represents and determines a different predetermined position in which enclosure 25 may be locked. Locking pin 39, which constitutes the short leg of an L-shaped member, is spring-biased by coil spring 41 so that it is normally urged vertically downward into engagement with one of notches 38. To raise pin 39 and disengage it from ring 26, either one of foot pedals 42 must be depressed by an attendant, thereby causing one of lever arms 43 to pivot at its fulcrum point 44. Linkage arm 45, the long leg of the L-shaped member, is consequently moved upwardly and this in turn disengages pin 39 from ring 26. The attendant must maintain foot pressure on the depressed pedal 42 until enclosure 25 rotates to the new position desired, at which time the pedal may be released so that locking pin 39 will engage the detent notch 38 associated with the new position.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred manner in which the ends of open-ended enclosure 25 may be closed. In that illust'ration netting 48, made of any suitably strong material such as closely woven high tensile strength Nylon mesh, is anchored to the ring shaped portion of each of leg structure 10, 11 to provide end walls that are fixed relative to enclosure 25. Preferably, each net 48 attaches to its associated leg structure in a-removable autoclavable manner so that they can easily be removed by the attendant to gain access to the patient simultaneously from three sides. The netting has been deleted in the other figures to illustrate more clearly the remaining elements of the crib.

While not specifically shown, the end walls may be effectively removable by constructing them in the form of rigid doors that can be opened. For example, the doors may be hinged or slidably mounted. It is to be noted that such maximum access to the patient from the ends of the enclosure is obtained by the use of rollers 35 engaging the circumferential periphery of enclosure 25.

Of course, when it is desired that the crib assume a construction closest to that of a conventional crib, the attendant will release the locking mechanism and allow enclosure 25 to rotate automatically to its top-open position shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. Thereafter, if increased accessibility is desired the position illustrated in FIG. 2 may be selected by the attendant. While accessibility is increased, however, the extent to which the patient is confined within the crib decreases. Maximum confinement is obtained by selecting the position shown in FIG. 3. To reach the position enclosure 25 must be rotated so that the access opening, between rails 31 and 32, is in its lowermost position and lies below the mattress support. As a result, there is absolutely no way for the child to climb or get out of a crib.

While the access opening extends almost the entire length of enclosure 25 in the illustrated embodiment,-

obviously the opening may have any desired dimensions. Preferably, it should extend lengthwise over at least half of the enclosures length dimension.

As best seen in FIG. 5, all four corners of mattress 23 are accessible at all times, even while enclosure 25 is being rotated. Hence, catheter and IV tubes may be extended into the crib at any one of those four corner l0- cations and such tubes will never be accidentally pinched or pulled out when the enclosure is rotated.

Enclosure 25 may, of course, take any of a variety of forms other than that specifically illustrated. For example, it may comprise a frame across which netting is stretched. Moreover, the enclosure need not be cylindrical shaped. It could have an ellipical cross-section or any other suitable shape. In fact, so long as end rings 26 and 27 are curved to permit rolling on rollers 35, the

portion of the enclosure between those rings could even have a square or rectangular cross section. Actually, by squaring and extending the section of the enclosure lying opposite or degrees from the access opening, greater head room could be provided for a child when the enclosure is established in its maximum confinement position.

The invention provides, therefore, a unique adjustable crib in which the confinement of a child in the crib, as well as the accessibility to that child, may be varied merely by rotating the enclosure to any selected one of a series of predetermined positions. By rolling the enclosure on its periphery, head and foot access to the patient may be maximized.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1.. An adjustable crib comprising:

a fixed frame having a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support, the ends of which are supported and held by generally vertically disposed head and foot leg structures;

an open-ended elongated unitary enclosure having an access opening extending lengthwise over at least a major portion of the enclosures length dimension;

and means for rotatably mounting said enclosure at the enclosures periphery and on said fixed frame between said leg structures with said mattress support being effectively encompassed by said enclosure and extending generally parallel to the enclosures rotational axis,

rotation of said enclosure around said mattress support allowing said access opening to be oriented, relative to said mattress support, to any selected one of a series of different predetermined positions to vary the accessibility to a person in the crib and also to vary the extent to which that person is confined by said enclosure.

2. An adjustable crib according to claim I in which said enclosure is permitted to rotate through a full 360, in one of said predetermined positions said access opening being below said mattress support to maximize the confinement effected by said enclosure.

3. An adjustable crib according to claim I and including releasable locking means for locking said enclosure in any selected one of said predetermined positions.

4. An adjustable crib according to claim I in which said enclosure generally defines a split cylinder with the split providing said access opening.

5. An adjustable crib according to claim 4 in which said rotatably mounting means is coupled to the circumferential periphery of said enclosure.

6. An adjustable crib according to claim 4 in which each end of said enclosure takes the form of a complete circular ring and in which said rotatably mounting means includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said leg structures, the outside peripheries of said rings being supported on said rollers.

7. An adjustable crib according to claim 6 in which at least one of said completed end rings has a series of detent notches corresponding to said series of different predetermined positions, and including releasable locking means for selectively engaging said detent notches to lock said enclosure in any selected one of said positions.

8. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said enclosure is rigid.

9. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said rotatably mounting means includes means for floatingly supporting said enclosure on said frame to effectively provide a resilient cushion between said enclosure and frame.

10. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 and including means for closing the ends of said open-ended enclosure.

1 1. An adjustable crib according to claim 10 in which said end-closing means are mounted on said leg structures and may remain fixed in position while said enclosure is rotated.

12. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 1 in which said end-closing means are effectively removable to gain access to said enclosure from either end.

13. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said enclosure includes a series of parallel spaced incompleted rings, said access opening being formed by the gaps in said rings.

14. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which the weight of said enclosure is distributed so that said enclosure, when permitted to rotate freely, automatically rotates to its top-open position wherein said access opening is uppermost.

15. An adjustable crib comprising:

a fixed frame having a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support, the ends of which are supported and held by vertically disposed head and foot leg structures;

a rigid unitary enclosure generally defining a split cylinder with the split providing an access opening extending lengthwise over at' least a major portion of the enclosures length dimension;

and means for rotatably mounting said enclosure on said fixed frame between said leg structures with said mattress support being effectively encompassed by said enclosure and extending generally parallel to the enclosures rotational axis,

rotation of said enclosure around said mattress support being permitted through a full 360 in order that said access opening may be oriented, relative to said mattress support, to any selected one of a series of different predetermined positions to vary the accessibility to a person in the crib and also to vary the extent to which that person is confined by said enclosure, in one of said positions said access opening being below said mattress support to maximize the confinement effected by said enclosure. 

1. An adjustable crib comprising: a fixed frame having a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support, the ends of which are supported and held by generally vertically disposed head and foot leg structures; an open-ended elongated unitary enclosure having an access opening extending lengthwise over at least a major portion of the enclosure''s length dimension; and means for rotatably mounting said enclosure at the enclosure''s periphery and on said fixed frame between said leg structures with said mattress support being effectively encompassed by said enclosure and extending generally parallel to the enclosure''s rotational axis, rotation of said enclosure around said mattress support allowing said access opening to be oriented, relative to said mattress support, to any selected one of a series of different predetermined positions to vary the accessibility to a person in the crib and also to vary the extent to which that person is confined by said enclosure.
 2. An adjustable crib according to claim I in which said enclosure is permitted to rotate through a full 360*, in one of said predetermined positions said access opening being below said mattress support to maximize the confinement effected by said enclosure.
 3. An adjustable crib according to claim I and including releasable locking means for locking said enclosure in any selected one of said predetermined positions.
 4. An adjustable crib according to claim I in which said enclosure generally defines a split cylinder with the split providing said access opening.
 5. An adjustable crib according to claim 4 in which said rotatably mounting means is coupled to the circumferential periphery of said enclosure.
 6. An adjustable crib according to claim 4 in which each end of said enclosure takes the form of a complete circular ring and in which said rotatably mounting means includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said leg structures, the outside peripheries of said rings being supported on said rollers.
 7. An adjustable crib according to claim 6 in which at least one of said completed end rings has a series of detent notches corresponding to said series of different predetermined positions, and including releasable locking means for selectively engaging said detent notches to lock said enclosure in any selected one of said positions.
 8. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said enclosure is rigid.
 9. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said rotatably mounting means includes means for floatingly supporting said enclosure on said frame to effectively provide a resilient cushion between said enclosure and frame.
 10. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 and including means for closing the ends of said open-ended enclosure.
 11. An adjustable crib according to claim 10 in which said end-closing means are mounted on said leg structures and may remain fixed in position while said enclosure is rotated.
 12. An adjustable crib according to claim 11 in which said end-closing means are effectively removable to gain access to said enclosure from either end.
 13. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which said enclosure includes a series of parallel spaced incompleted rings, said access opening being formed by the gaps in said rings.
 14. An adjustable crib according to claim 1 in which the weight of said enclosure is distributed so that said enclosure, when permitted to rotate freely, automatically rotates to its top-open position wherein said access opening is uppermost.
 15. An adjustable crib comprising: a fixed frame having a horizontally disposed elongated mattress support, the ends of which are supported and held by vertically disposed head and foot leg structures; a rigid unitary enclosure generally defining a split cylinder with the split providing an access opening extending lengthwise over at least a major portion of the enclosure''s length dimension; and means for rotatably mounting said enclosure on said fixed frame between said leg structures with said mattress support being effectively encompassed by said enclosure and extending generally parallel to the enclosure''s rotational axis, rotation of said enclosure around said mattress support being permitted through a full 360* in order that said access opening may be oriented, relative to said mattress support, to any selected one of a series of different predetermined positions to vary the accessibility to a person in the crib and also to vary the extent to which that person is confined by said enclosure, in one of said positions said access opening being below said mattress support to maximize the confinement effected by said enclosure. 